The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-10-15
LIFE In MEXICO.
Thrilling Tales of Capture and
Holding for Ransom.


Thrilling Tales OF Capture and
Holding for Ransom.
49,
-. s.orv =, . c.,s-., who vas K,dn.n-
Cd and tn. PerIlous situation He was
In whe. He was Finally Discovered.
49,.
concerning .ne peasant possiniii ties
OF tnis uncertain country many Diood-
curuiing taies are toio OF occurrences
IN me past, which mlSno easily De re-
Pea.eo.ih .he present Win suincieh. IN
cenuv1' am aware 'h"' 70 ilieh.ioh
:0ese .nings Is 10 prinS one sci, INTO
ueeP oisiavor' not only WIN tne MeAi-
cans Du' more particularly WIN Ger
sain Americans III business mere VINO
cnoS"vor 70 MAKE IL 80 warm ior INC
700 ou.spokeh Journalists tna' ne or she
nnus II saier 10 Journey horenwaru
WIN eApee'''oh pu' SINCE my iniorih-
1nS were an american eui'or IN tne
O..y Of mexico twhose name ! wouia
wiiiinsiy oiSclose) anu several MeNl-
cans 70 me manner eorh' perhaps Ine
iecitai OF one OF TWO Oh 'iiese historic
happenings may DC eAcusea
a 10" years ago gooo eea, Oh kio-
mapping was carrieu on III Mexico
money having peen geheraiiy tne Cd
3ect' ANY pody OF wealth. ana ih1iu-
ence was haoie 10 DC se,zea IN an I'M
GUARDED moment ana seluom' ihoeeo'
were tne Victlms ever hearu OF again,
unless 'neR irienos came oowh most
nandsomeiy' Inc modus operahai, al
Yer q man hao oeen secured ana hladen'
was 70 post notices mere anu tnere within
sight OF MS family sometimes tncy were
pinned up ku-Kiux iashioh, with Dag
ger or decorated with skulls ana cross
oones-statng what sum OF money was
required 70 oe ieit "i'hin given ''me
~ . certain spot 10 ransom the'r reia-
1ve' ana plainly iht'inaUhg 'nat non,
compliance win 'he demand would
seal MS oea1h-"arrant' !" men the
money was promptly paid the kianap-
90 persons were usually released ac-
corning 10 promise; put IN many IN
etances a iresn demand was MADE, 1oi-
lowed by another ana another as long
rs tnere was the silShtcst prospect OF
iurtner gam.
one OF the most celebrated cases OF
TINS kino was tnat OF uenefal Cervantes'
winch occurred l peieve, IN 1874. he
was prominent poltlcian. IN the
prime OF me- peionglnS 10 iamiiy OF
great wealth. ana lnnuence, ana the
miscreants VINO captured MN well
knew tnat MS people would move
heaven ana eartn Ior ms release. wen,
Gays and weeks went by, and though
sne country was secured Tor the miss
1ng man no trace OF MN was discov-
erco or was hKely 10 be so long as a
penny could De gained by MS retention.
nus family spent thousands OF dollars
IN tne vain search ana IN repeatedly
oePosiuhe large sums OF money Tor MS
ransom as indicated Dy mysterious
Piacaros, until tney were completely
Impoverished. ana men, moved by the
Years OF MS distracted young wi1e ana
me prayers OF ms aged mother the
OoSernment onerea considerable
amount ior MS restoration. But sun
no CerVantes appeared AT las1' by
me merest accident ne was discovered
In tne neart OF tne poPuious city ana
wi'nih a stone tnrow OF ms own dweh-
ing-unaer tne noor OF a deserted
mouse, fyihs nat upon MS PACK IN
place barely VIDE enough to hold MIN.
gagged pound hand ana loot with
several weti-sharpened daggers thrust
Mt9in a nairs breadth OF MS body so
snae II he should have stirred they
would nave pierced nm. Having re-
manned long IN TINS terrible CONDITION
ne was barely alive when found, and II
was only after weeks OF careful nurs-
ing during which time he lay speech
less and his life hung by thread, that
ne was able TO tell OF his adventures;
ana meantime OF course, the mlscre-
ants mad ample opportunity to escape.
IL seems that late one evening he
was standing IN ms own door when
suddenly a serape was thrown over his
mead by some unknown persons and
drawn so lightly as TO prevent any out
cry; then he was placed IN carriage
ana driven rapidly a very long dis
lance as he supposed. Doubtless, the
rapid drive, they having returned tc
nearly the same point whence they
started, was intended Tor "blind,